Waterproof container latch



Dec. 8, 1942. 1 BAFlA 25,304,528

WATERPROOF CONTAINER LATCH Filed April 4, 1 946 milla? [NVE/V 71712 s 33 f @W 'AlN-l j `4 TUM/VE Patented Dec. 8, 1942 2st-ens UNITED STATES? FATENT' 01E FICE l 2,304,528'. Y n

WATERPRDQF CONTAINER LATCH n .Iosephafm Chicago, Ill. 'Applicatibn' Aprilfl, 1940,v Serial No. 327,745

` Y (01.292-58) p The invention relates toimprovem'entsfin wa' "'members are adequately protected against corterproof' containers; and; l'ocks' therefor, andi4 more" particularly' to an hermeticallyv sealed container adapted tot be carriedl by: bathers;. swimmersy` andl othersifor keeping articlessuchas cigarettes, cos.- metics, matches' orV money' dry;

An 'object' of the invention is't'o provide a. simply constructed, inexpensive, waterproof container embodying a novel lockingmjechanism' for her'- metically sealingA` theY receiving" opening' therein.

Another object isv to* provide a: waterproof` container in the `forrn of" a purse, with novell means on opposed faces of its complemental jaw portions arrangedto co-act to hermetically seal said jaw when the later is closed and locked.

Another object of the invention is to provide an efficient inexpensively constructed easily actuated lock.

The foregoing and such other objects of the invention, as will appear hereinafter as the description proceeds, Will be more readily understood from a perusal from the following specification in which reference is had to the accompanying drawing wherein;

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view, partly broken away, of the improved container.

Fig. 2 is a framgentary transverse sectional view taken substantially line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional View similar to- Fig. 2 showing the container jaw open.

Fig. 4 is an end View of the lock element taken substantially on line 4--4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an end view of the other lock element taken substantially on line 5--5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plane View of the container showing the parts illustrated in Fig. 3.

Fig. '7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 but on an enlarged scale showing the locking device closed and locked and partly in section. i

As best shown in Fig. 1 the improved container II preferably is made of waterproof material, such as for example; rubber, rubberized fabric, oilskin or the like, and preferably as an opening l2 along one edge providing complemental opposed jaw portions adapted to be moved toward and away from each other to effect opening and closing of the container. The complemental jaw portions are each suitably reinforced by a rigid strap I3 which, in the illustration, is substantially arcuate and which have their associated end portions hingedly connected together at I4 as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The straps I3 preferably are entirely embedded within the material from which the container is made consequently said AVArosion or'other damage; When the complemental. jaw portions are brought togetherv toy close the container, the opposed resilient faces I5 of said portions engage. Non-registering continuous ridges or beads I6,.provided one on each face I5, are adaptedto be comp-ressed to hermetically seal the opening |21.

Although various types ofV known latches or locks may be employed with limited success to retain the jaw portions closed for hermetically sealing the container opening" I2, it is preferable that the novelly.' constructed latch o r loci:4 best illustrated in detail in Figs; 3 to 7 inclusive, be provided. The lock preferably consists of complemental elements Il and I8 one of which is fixedly secured to one of the jaw portons'by means of a substantially T-shaped plate I9 and the other of which is xedly attached to the other jaw portions by a similar substantially shaped plate 2I. The T-shaped plates i9 and 2l may be attached in any suitable manner,. however it is preferable that they each be secured to one strap I3 by screws or rivets 22.

The lock element I8 preferably includes a substantially cylindrical housing 23 riveted, welded tatably mounted at one end in the mounted end of the housing 23, as best shown in Fig. 7, on the longitudinal axis of the housing. The free or forward end of the pin 26 preferably extends beyond the free shouldered end of the housing 23 'and has integral therewith a, finger-piece 2l which extends substantially at right angles therefrom for selective engagement with either of the diametrically opposed shoulders 25.

The other complemental lock element il also consists of a tubular shell 28 rigidly secured in any suitable manner at one end to the attaching plate 2I. The member 28 has a wall thickness substantially less than the Width of the annular space between the pin 2B and the inside periphery of the housing 23 so that when the jaw portions are brought together in closed position, the

'element 28 telescopes freely into the housing 23 and the pin 26 telescopes into the shell 28. Obviously, suitable means must be provided to allow for free uninterrupted passage of the finger piece 21 when the parts 23 and 28 are telescoped. To this end, the wall of the shell 28 has a longitudinally extending helical slot 29 of sufficient Width to accommodate the nger-piece 21.

To close and lock the container the iingerpiece 21 is initially arranged in the position substantially as shown in Figs. 4.- and 6 in which position it rests upon one of the shoulders 25. As the parts 23 and 28 are moved into their initial telescoped arrangement, the finger-piece engages the exposed inclined face 3l of the helical slot 29 and as the closing movement continues, is urged or directed by said slot upwardly and then over downwardly until it lies substantially against the other shoulder 25.

The complemental jaw portions oi the container are, when the lock is in this position, in substantial contact. However, additional pressure is required to bring their opposed beaded faces l5 tightly together to provide the necessary hermetic seal. Accordingly, the inner end of the helical slot 29 terminates in a substantially circumferentially extending slot 32 having at least one of its edges 33 inclined slightly whereby, upon manual movement of the ngeru piece 21 along said slot from the position last described upwardly and across the top of the shell 28, the complemental locking elements and likewise the complemental jaws are drawn tightly together.

When the container is closed and locked, movement of the finger-piece 21 from its locked position shown in Fig. '1 is easily affected manually and as soon as said finger-piece is in alinement with the helical slot 29 the normal resiliency of the abutting faces of the jaw portions urges said jaw portions apart thus eiecting automatic disengagement from the helical slot.

It should be understood at this time that .the waterproof container herein described may readily embody other forms than that shown and that if desired suitable loops 34 or the like may be provided thereon to afford means for attaching the container to a belt or other device for attaching the purse to the body of the user.

I claim:

A latch comprising, in combination, a tubular housing closed at one end, a pin axially arranged in said tubular housing, said pin having a diameter considerably less than the inside diameter of said tubular housing to define an annular space and being rotatably secured against longitudinal movement at one end in the closed end of said housing, a radial nger piece on the free end of said pin, a complemental tubular element arranged to telescope into said annular space, and a longitudinally disposed cam-like slot in the wall of said element terminating at its inner end in a substantially circumferential slot, said cam-like slot opening on the entrance face of said element whereby the radial finger piece enters said slot during telescopic movement of the parts and nally rests in the substantially circumferential slot to detachably secure the parts together.

JOSEPH BAFIA. 

